Author's note: Hey everyone, thank you all so much for reading and favoriting! I am trying to update at least twice a week, but school's just been crazy! I hope you all enjoy this new chapter! Next one will be up soon! And feel free to leave a review and also private message me if you would like, I check my messages regularly!
-Ari

Having seemingly been holding her breath, Hermione let out a burst of air at the disbelief. Quickly accessing the situation, she realized that she had two options: 1) stand here, debate about it, and waste time, or 2) work this to her advantage.

She immediately settled on the second option, should this go as planned, military strategies would be easier with her added power.

She turned abruptly to Lucius, who seemed to still be working out exactly how the power transfer occurred.

"Where's the floo?"

Snapping out of his thoughts, he replied, "They're all over the manor, but the closest one would have to be in the meeting room that we walked through. Why?"

Instead of replying to his question she just said, "I need to floo to my parents' house." She started walking back the way they came, but stopped and turned to face him once more, "When I get back, you will see the nature of my visit."

When she saw that he was about to protest, she cut him off, "They know." she said, softly, turned back around, and continued down the long hallway towards the meeting room.

She never did see his nod of approval or his raised eyebrow.

Hermione walked towards the fireplace and grabbed a handful of the floo powder in her hands, then threw it into the fiery embers, turning them from an orange red color to a brilliant emerald green.

She stepped in and yelled, "Granger Household!"

Once the unpleasant feeling of flooing passed, she landed in the fireplace of her parents' living room. Dusting herself off, she noticed that the lights, while dim, were still on in the kitchen.

Upon hearing the commotion in the living room, the lights snapped on there as well, revealing her parents, standing side by side, looking startled and pale.

Hermione smirked to them, and they smirked back. Without words, the three moved into a tight embrace.

When they broke apart, they took in her crimson red pupils.

"Hermione?" her father whispered, not in fear, but in awe.

"Yes, it's me." she replied back softly.

Glancing at her watch, she spoke urgently, "Listen, there is so much that I have to tell you, but I cannot right now, it's late and I'm still expected to be at Hogwarts in the morning before everyone else wakes up." she paused, "I need your help. I need contact lenses, preferably in a deep grey color, to counteract the red."

Without hesitation, her mother replied, "I believe we still have charcoal grey non prescription contact lenses from last Halloween."

After finishing her statement, her mother led her through the house to a storage closet and rumbled through a painted ebony chest and a moment later pulled out a pair of unused contact lenses in a deep stormy grey color that Hermione had requested.

Quickly thanking her, the three walked back to the living room where the fireplace resided, she took a deep breath, "Thank you, I have to go now, be safe." she said, whispering the last part and giving each of her parents a hug before jumping back into the deep green flames and yelling, "Malfoy Manor!"

As the surprisingly cooling flames swallow her up, she saw acceptance in her parents' eyes, acceptance, understanding, and love. She flashed them a parting smile, before the emerald flames engulfed her, which her parents retuned.

Landing in the fireplace of the meeting room, she steadied herself and dusted off her black clothes and made a disgusted sound, reminding herself to find some way to apparate.

Lucius was pacing through the large room and upon her arrival, raised his eyebrow in both amusement and questioning.

She broke the silence, "I got them."

Nodding silently, he decided, it was time, "There are some things that Tom wishes you to have, as the newly reigning Dark Lord."

A confused look fell across her face before it was replaced with seriousness and respect. She glanced towards the long ebony table in the center of the room and saw a silver case, twined with snakes all around it.

He followed her glance and confirmed, "Yes, in that case is what is intended for you."

Striding slowly toward the silver adorned box, she lifted the lid and a piece of parchment fluttered out onto the table.

Taking in a shuddering breath, she picked up the parchment, reading the neatly written words carefully. The words were written in a beautifully flowing cursive script and read at the top, 'To Hermione Granger.'

'Miss Granger, by the time you come upon and read this, you would have become the new dark ruler. I would have told you everything and transferred all my magical power to you. Do not question how or why I gave you the power, instead use it to your advantage, which, by this time, I assume you already have. Enclosed in this box is an ebony bladed dagger, I trust you will understand how to brandish it, and another wand, yes, I am aware that you already own one, but this wand is untraceable, it is powerful; it was mine, and now it is yours, but do keep in mind, your own wand and this one will both comply to your magic. In any case that a dark and most likely an illegal spell is needed to be cast, use this wand, this one cannot be tracked and is unregistered. That is all; here is the end of your following, and the beginning of your leadership. Always remember, Hermione, you were chosen because you are worthy, leave all doubt behind, but never forget what I have told you. I leave you here, bring the dark side the glory that I was unable to tear asunder the side of light that has reigned for too long, and do not make the same mistakes as I have in years past. Make history, Hermione Granger.'

The letter immediately disappeared in a burst of emerald green smoke as soon as she finished reading the last sentence, the silver box disappearing along with it, and although the letter was not in her hands anymore, the words were forever burned into her mind.

One lone tear slid down her cheek, a crystalline droplet falling down to the floor.

Steeling herself, she picked up the dagger, heavy with a shiny black blade and handle, while silver snakes with emerald eyes twined around the handle.

The wand was long and black, thicker at the base and thinner near the tip, when she picked it up, she felt a powerful surge of magic run through her.

'Oh yes. They will pay, every last one of them.' she thought, as a dark look came over her features and an evil, malicious smirk twisted her lips.